One of the biggest challenges in test automation is handling web elements with dynamic IDs. In earlier versions of Ranorex Studio, the solution has been to set up path weight rules that disregard dynamic IDs in favor of stable attributes.
With machine learning for dynamic IDs, release 9.0 eliminates the need to rely on weight rules. Ranorex Studio’s AI can detect dynamic IDs in your web elements and disregard them, choosing other, more stable attributes to uniquely identify each element. Your web tests are easier to create and more reliable. Of course, release 9.0 respects any existing weight rules, and you can enter new path weight rules if desired.

If you have hundreds or thousands of automated tests, even a small performance improvement during test execution could generate significant savings. Ranorex Studio 9.0 delivers significantly faster performance for all web browsers — especially for Internet Explorer — even when testing applications with complex DOM elements such as a grid.
We’d love to hear about how much time you save, and what you do with that extra time! Drop a line to our marketing team to let us know how long your web test runs execute before and after the update to Ranorex Studio 9.0. We’ll feature some of the best results on our fan pages!

Automatic identification of shadow DOM elements

Ranorex Studio 9.0 delivers automatic identification of elements in a shadow DOM. Currently, a shadow DOM is supported by the Chrome, Firefox, and Safari browsers; and its use is required for some modern JS frameworks such as Polymer and Web Components. Microsoft Edge support for the shadow DOM might still be in development, but with Ranorex Studio 9.0, your test automation can be ready for it today!

Test automation for Java applications with the JxBrowser

JxBrowser is a cross-platform library for integration of the Chromium browser into Java applications. Ranorex Studio is the only test automation solution currently supporting test automation for the JxBrowser, with no need for manual instrumentation of your AUT. If you aren’t a current Ranorex Studio user, download a free 30-day trial to experience test automation for your Java application with the JxBrowser.

Watch our 9.0 Webinar

What’s New in Ranorex Studio 9.0? This webinar includes a live demonstration of the major features and enhancements in Ranorex Studio 9.0. The presentation will last 60 minutes.

Beautiful dark and light themes

You asked for it. Now it’s finally here. Release 9.0 introduces a completely revamped new dark theme. Whether you want to stay on the light side or take a trip to the dark side, now the choice is as easy as flipping a switch. So, give your eyes a rest when you’re putting in some late-night hours on your next test project, or brighten the mood with the light theme. Either way, you’re in control.

DARK THEME

LIGHT THEME

Tools for debugging and test suite optimization

Whether you need to debug a 64-bit process, determine why a test failed, or analyze test performance, Ranorex Studio 9.0 delivers the tools that you need.

64-bit test automation and debugging

Testing a 64-bit WinForm application on Windows? Now you can debug your application and do all of your test creation from within the Ranorex Studio user interface with the new 64-bit version. This eliminates the need to use the external 64-bit Spy and Recorder to automate your tests. In addition, you’ll get snappier performance on 64-bit systems, especially when working with larger test suites. Note that due to technology limitations, some 32-bit applications may require you to use the 32-bit version of Ranorex Studio.

Video recording of test execution

If a picture is worth a thousand words, what’s a video worth? If you are trying to determine why a given test case failed, the answer could be “priceless.” Now, you can capture video during test execution so that you can see what happened without having to re-run the entire test. In Ranorex Studio release 9.0, simply set the new Video Recording mode field to choose the level at which recording occurs. You can also adjust the bitrate and frame rate to manage the quality and size of the recording.

After a test run completes, the test run report displays the result of each test case. Next to each test is a “Play video” button that allows you to view the video of the test directly from the test run report. Videos are also provided for the setup and teardown sections of your test case.

Data for test execution performance analysis

As your test suite grows, you may want to determine which tests take the most time to run and could benefit from optimization. Now you can, with our new performance analysis feature. Ranorex Studio generates a spreadsheet with details of each action performed during the test execution, including the type of action, affected repository item(s), and the time required to execute. This can help you understand the performance of different actions and what might be done to improve them.

Test Suite Runner improvements

When a solution has multiple test suites, Ranorex Studio Test Suite Runner now attempts to locate the correct .exe file automatically for the currently-open test suite. Of course, you always have the option to manually select an .exe file for execution.

Simpler release process

Ranorex Studio 9.0 introduces a new way of distributing a release which will reduce the need to upgrade your test solutions for future releases. This will make handling of solutions in your CI tool much easier. And, because the version number is no longer in the installation path, the result is better compatibility between Ranorex Studio versions.

New File and New Project wizards

Work more efficiently with the new File and New Project wizards. For example, to create a new project, simply chooseAdd new project usingwizardfrom the menu. Following the wizard, you’ll be ready to start using your new project in just a minute or two. The New Project wizard automatically applies your current whitelist settings, but you can always add or change the whitelisted processes.

Streamlined remote test execution

We’ve streamlined remote testing. Now, an existing test will be rebuilt, repackaged, and delivered to a remote machine only if changes have been made to the test. And, with our new tags feature, you can create custom tags for remote agents. Use the tags to group agents by capability set or O/S version. Search for agent tags in Ranorex Studio, and launch CI builds by tags.

Ease-of-Use Improvements

Release 8.3 introduces a powerful RocketStart wizard and a built-in First Steps tutorial to help new Ranorex Studio users get started with test automation. We’ve also revamped the Ranorex Recorder to give you more control over the recording process.

RocketStart new solution wizard

The RocketStart wizard launches automatically the first time that you open Ranorex Studio, or when you choose “New test solution using wizard…” from the Start panel. Begin by selecting the technology that you plan to test; then allow the wizard to help you by:

Configuring your desktop, web, or mobile application for testing

Setting up process whitelisting for error-free recording

Adding modules to the solution that start and close the application under test (AUT)

Opening the new First Steps built-in tutorial that demonstrates how to automate your first test.

Ranorex Recorder improvements

We’ve revamped the Ranorex Recorder to give you more control over the recording process. The recorder now displays a history of the last four actions, providing instant feedback during recording. You can modify and delete recorded actions right in the recorder or add new ones using the recorder’s controls. For greater efficiency, the recorder no longer prompts you to select the technology to test at the start of each recording, and it does not open the AUT for you. Now you can simply leave your application open and allow the whitelisting feature to ensure that your mouse and keyboard actions interact only with the AUT.

Watch our 8.3 Webinar

What’s new in Ranorex Studio Release 8.3? This webinar includes a live demonstration of the major features and enhancements in Ranorex Studio 8.3. The presentation will last 50 minutes.

Streamlined remote test execution

Download 8.3 and enjoy installation-free remote test execution, simplified license deployment, and other improvements.Installation-free remote test execution: Redistributables (i.e. C++) no longer need to be installed on remote machines when running tests via XCOPY deployment or a Ranorex agent.
Simplified remote license deployment: You can now deploy a license with the remote test execution, so an idle agent no longer consumes a license. As a result, the option to configure a license manager has been removed from the agent. Simply deploy the license to the output directory or agent using the option Settings > General > Include license information. The test executable will then use this license or the specified license manager to obtain a license.

Automatic browser instrumentation

The Open browser action can now automatically instrument a browser, making it easy to create test environments on fresh virtual machines whether using XCOPY deployment or a Ranorex Agent. Simply create an Open browser action and set the new Instrument property to True. Existing Ranorex browser plug-ins in the test environment are automatically updated if necessary.

Are you using Microsoft Excel spreadsheet files for your data-driven testing? Now you no longer need to have a valid Microsoft Excel license for remote test execution. Instead, simply install the free Microsoft Access Database Engine 2016 Redistributable. However, you must have a valid Microsoft Excel license on the machine where you edit your Ranorex Studio automated test

Deploy tests to Ranorex Agents via the command line interface

Deploy and run your tests on a Ranorex Agent via the command line interface. Simply add the command line argument “/agent:” to your test executable and the test will run on the specified remote agent. Based on your feedback, this feature now supports all basic command line arguments.

Ranorex 8.3 Enhanced Technology Support

Microsoft Edge browser

In addition to supporting the Edge browser through our Selenium WebDriver integration, Ranorex Studio now has native support for all Microsoft Edge browser controls.

Apple iOS 12

Release 8.3 includes native support for the latest release of the Apple iOS.

Windows IME

Release 8.3 supports Windows IME, which is used to enter complex characters in languages including Japanese and Korean, as well as traditional and simplified Chinese.

Watch our 8.3 Webinar

What’s new in Ranorex Studio Release 8.3? This webinar includes a live demonstration of the major features and enhancements in Ranorex Studio 8.3. The presentation will last 50 minutes.

Tools for Collaboration

When members of a team are working on a shared automation solution, it’s inevitable that there will be merge conflicts. These can be challenging to resolve manually. Ranorex Studio 8.2 offers two solutions for reducing merge conflicts and managing them when they do occur.

Multiple test suites

Ranorex Studio 8.2 introduces the ability to organize a test project into multiple test suites. Each test suite can then be assigned to a different team member, to reduce or eliminate the chance of merge conflicts. One option is to use the “playground” approach, where team members work on test cases in isolation until they are ready to be moved into the production test suite. Or, if you prefer, use the “divide and conquer” approach, where test suites are divided among team members based on functional area or other criteria.

Ranorex Magic Merger

The new Magic Merge tool supports teams in resolving conflicts visually. For solutions that are under source control, the Magic Merger automatically resolves up to 90% of conflicts, reducing the need for manual intervention. When a conflict can’t be auto-resolved, a visual assistant helps you understand and resolve the conflict without diving into the xml file structure. The Magic merger works for Ranorex test suite files (.rxtst), repository files (.rxrep) and project files (.csproj). The Ranorex Magic Merger is designed to be integrated into your source control system (SVN, TFVS, Git) as the default merging tool.

Improved Performance

Whitelist just the processes related to your application to speed up identification of UI elements and test execution.
At any given time, a Windows computer may be running processes that are unrelated to the application under test. Windows may start these processes automatically, or they may be left over from other activity on the computer. Either way, because Ranorex Spy evaluates all available processes for UI elements, these unrelated processes can slow scanning. Ranorex Studio 8.2 introduces the ability to whitelist processes belonging to the application under test. This makes Ranorex Spy more responsive and allows test runs to complete faster. In addition, with process whitelisting in place, Ranorex Recorder ignores unrelated activity such as accidentally clicking on a meeting reminder during recording. Release 8.2 also includes improved load and build times for test solutions.

Delphi Support

Release 8.2 adds direct support for VCL, all standard Delphi controls, and popular third-party controls.
Release 8.2 provides improved support for automating applications developed with Delphi versions XE2 and later. This includes support for VCL, as well as direct support for all standard Delphi controls and properties and popular third-party controls DevExpress and TMS. The result is faster and more stable automation for applications created with Delphi. This release includes backward compatibility for tests automated with the GDI plug-in.

TestRail integration

An all-new integration wizard makes it easy to synchronize test cases between Ranorex and TestRail.
When you combine best-in-class test automation with industry-leading test management, you get informative dashboards and comprehensive management reports for all of your testing: automated or manual. If you are a TestRail user, the new integration wizard makes it easy to export test cases to Ranorex for automation. Likewise, if you automate test cases in Ranorex Studio, simply export them to TestRail for inclusion in management reports. Once tests cases are linked, the results of Ranorex test runs can be reported back to TestRail in real time for instant analysis. For more information, refer to the Ranorex User Guide.

Support for cross-domain iframes

Cross-domain iframes allow a web page to include content with a different origin. Now Ranorex Studio can detect and automate objects inside these cross-domain iframes, even when web security is enabled.

2x faster Web testing with Firefox

Now your tests can complete up to twice as fast in Firefox. This release also re-introduces Flash/Flex support for Firefox and Chrome/Chromium. See the release notes for a full list of web testing improvements.

Enhanced remote pad

Are you using the Ranorex remote pad to launch remote agents? With this update, you can now select a test suite and run configuration directly within the remote pad.

Maintenance mode

Capture crucial information about local or remote test failures and correct them in a snap.
In theory, an automated test should perform the same on all remote machines. But in practice, an automated test that runs successfully on 9 remote systems may fail on the 10th, due to issues such as variations in environment parameters. UI changes due to updates of your application under test can also cause a previously-working test to fail. Ranorex 8.0 introduces a new maintenance mode to help resolve these issues quickly so that you can spend more time improving your test strategy and less time fixing failed automated tests. Now you can repair failing tests on the fly, whether a test is running on a local machine or remotely and directly continue the test run.

How it works

A test run stops because of an “element not found” error or a failed validation. The state of the system under test is preserved as of the moment the error occurred: no teardown or other cleanup actions are performed.

You can open the progressive report to analyze the steps executed prior to the failure. This can help to understand what went wrong during the test execution.

Easily update the RanoreXPath of the element not found by analyzing the updated user interface using Ranorex Spy. Or simply update the value of the validation that failed.

The failed test step will be repeated with the updated RanoreXPath or validation value and the test run resumes from the point after the failed test action.

In the generated report file you can decide whether to accept the changes to RanoreXPaths or validations made during the test run for future test executions, or not.

Simplified test deployment

No need to install or update the Ranorex runtime on remote machines.
Ranorex 8.0 desktop test automation projects can be generated as portable packages that include the Ranorex runtime, thus eliminating the need to preinstall Ranorex on a remote machine. This approach is beneficial in environments where internal policies or restrictions may inhibit installations on runtime environments, such as those enforced by group policies within domains. Using a portable package accelerates deployment of automated tests to fresh virtual machines since the entire Ranorex setup can be skipped. You also save time on rolling out updates to Ranorex in the future, because the latest version installed on the local machine will be deployed with the portable package.

Ranorex Studio gets a fresh new look

With the new version, Ranorex is getting a full makeover. This update isn’t just about giving Ranorex Studio a fresh new coat of paint – further usability improvements have been implemented making Ranorex Studio much tidier and clearer with a whole new simplified toolbar.

Improved readability in key sequences

Previously when recording a test in Ranorex Studio, every keyboard interaction has been added – all keystrokes included. However, complicated key sequence actions as “{RShiftKey down}” can make recordings hard to retrace. That’s why a smart mechanism has been introduced eliminating extraneous keystrokes.

Automation helpers

Master daily automation challenges without coding using our Ranorex Automation Helpers.
Automation Helpers enable you to effortlessly handle common testing challenges without writing a single line of code. They are available as modules and as methods, and can be accessed directly from the user code library or the module browser. For example, Automation Helpers allow you to do the following:

Convert your report to PDF

Using Automation Helpers, you can easily convert your test automation report to PDF. This way, even team members who do not have Ranorex installed can view and analyze reports.

Send a test report via email

Send a report as an email attachment at the moment a test run finishes, by adding an Automation Helper to your test suite. The email can be sent on test run success, failure, or both.

Codeless creation of conditions

Change the behavior of your tests according to preset conditions.
Specific parts of your test suite should only be run when particular conditions are fulfilled? Now, instead of creating individual test cases for different scenarios, you can use the same test case but run child elements conditionally based on data sources and parameters, without having to dip into code.

Reduce merge conflicts

Improve team collaboration as conflicting changes to repository items are automatically merged.
You and your colleague are working on the same project and have both checked in changes to a version control system? Then merge conflicts are almost inevitable. But don’t despair! Ranorex 7.1 now automatically recognizes and merges several common conflicting modifications to repository items.

Selenium WebDriver integration improvements

Platform-independent web testing in grid environments.
As we’ve optimized our Selenium grid support, you can easily distribute your tests across different operating systems and browsers to maximize testing efficiency while minimizing your time spent on testing!
A few other usability tweaks we’re sure you’ll like in Ranorex 7.1: